# Oblique Strategies > Digital deck of cards with cryptic phrases for creative problem-solving. (iPhone/iPad app by Alex Lelievre.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies/id291102639 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Alex Lelievre](https://appshunter.io/developer/286627796) - Category: Music, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 3.00/5 from 1,672 App Store ratings · 70 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 2.0 · 0 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2025-04-18 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies/id291102639/reviews.md ## What is Oblique Strategies? Oblique Strategies (subtitled, "over one hundred worthwhile dilemmas") is a deck of cards created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt first published in 1975, and now in its fifth edition. Each card contains a phrase or cryptic remark which can be used to break a deadlock or dilemma situation. These cards are for creative-type-situations where you are stuck and need a way out. You draw a card and follow the strategy blindly by applying it obliquely to your problem. This version of Oblique Strategies contains all five editions and allows you to draw the top card off of a shuffled deck. Future versions of Oblique will allow you to browse the deck. In the meantime, double tapping the card back will quickly show the next card in the deck. The deck is shuffled when the last card is drawn or when you select an edition from the preferences. You can get to the preferences by clicking the little 'i' icon in the bottom right corner. The application currently only works in landscape orientation. ## Key features - Digital deck of cards - Over 100 worthwhile dilemmas - Break creative deadlocks - Apply strategies blindly - Includes all five editions - Shuffle deck functionality - Landscape orientation only ## What do users think of Oblique Strategies? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎨 Interesting and thought-provoking - 🧠 Helpful for creativity and problem-solving - 🚀 Convenient to have on the go - 👍 Comprehensive and well-designed **Cons** - 🔀 Lack of true randomization - 📱 Inconvenient landscape-only orientation - 🔍 Lack of information about different editions **Commonly reported bugs** - Randomization issues - Compatibility concerns **Most requested features** - Shake-to-shuffle feature - Option to combine all editions into one deck - Browse mode to view all cards - Slideshow feature ## Recent user reviews (10 of 70) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies/id291102639/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Thank you. *2010-01-27, version 0* All 5 editions and as simple as it deserves to be. What more can you ask for? ### 1/5 — Pretentious *2009-09-13, version 0* A pretentious pack of random drivel by a bloviating, washed-up poseur ### 5/5 — Alberquerque *2009-09-03, version 0* The one without the parsley is the one without the poison. Hard to tell at this distance (in time). ### 4/5 — I love Oblique Strategies, but... *2009-08-03* Was very happy to see this appear for free in the App Store after having it on a Jailbroken iPod Touch. But. What happened to portrait mode? It's very annoying to have to move to two-handed landscape mode just to read the screen. Also I agree with others who have said this would be a perfect application for a shake-to-shuffle feature. Really it would be shake-to-show-next (random) item, ideally. It's great to see a preferences screen with the choice of different editions of the strategies. It would be nice to have some more information about the editions - are the editions additive, or do some strategies get dumped when editions get updated? How different are they? Why are they different? OK, I'll try to find the answer on the web, but some hints about this inside the app would not hurt. Should also have an option to select from ALL editions (but with duplicates removed, so everything has an equal chance of getting selected). This is a music app in the same way that a color wheel is a restaurant app. In other words, not at all. Yes, you can use a color wheel to help you decide how to paint a restaurant... just like can use Oblique Strategies to help inspire your music. But it's not for music only. Eno and Schmidt are not just musicians. This app should be put in another category, not Music. I would say put it in the App Store Productivity category. ### 5/5 — This is how it seems to be *2009-07-19, version 0* For all mankind. ### 5/5 — Love it! *2009-07-17, version 0* Awesome phrases to get you thinking! ### 4/5 — Nicely Done *2009-06-22, version 0* This is the nicest implementation of Oblique Strategies I've found in the app store ... and free as well! I appreciate the ability to select which version of the cards are being used. I'd like to be able to choose when to reshuffle a pack, maybe by shaking the iPhone, rather than waiting until the pack is used up (or selected and reslecting which version to use) but this is a minor issue. The ability to add my own cards would be icing on the cake. Thanks for this app. ### 5/5 — Great. *2009-06-12, version 0* Fantastic. Really pleased to discover that there was an app for this. ### 2/5 — 90 degrees from perfection *2009-05-21, version 0* A lovely implementation of a magnificent creative device. If only it were oriented vertically it would be more comfortable to use. Randomization wouldn't hurt either. You're at the threshold of greatness. Push harder. ### 4/5 — Interesting, but not sure how useful *2009-04-11* Not to be confused with a similarly-named 99-cent app from a different developer. This app allows a random draw from the “Oblique Strategies” deck, a set of flash cards originally developed by a musician to help him break creative blocks. It’s never really done much for me in that regard, but it’s an interesting curiosity—sort of like a “Magic 8 Ball” with more faces. ## Frequently asked questions about Oblique Strategies ### What is Oblique Strategies? Oblique Strategies is a digital deck of cards containing over 100 cryptic phrases or remarks. These are designed to help users break through creative blocks or dilemma situations by offering unconventional approaches to problems. ### How do I use the app? You draw a card from the shuffled deck and apply the phrase or remark to your current problem. The intention is to follow the strategy blindly and see how it obliquely applies to your situation. ### What editions are included? This version of the application includes all five editions of the Oblique Strategies deck, providing a comprehensive collection of dilemmas and phrases for creative inspiration. ### Is this app free? Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the description. ### What devices is this app compatible with? The application currently only works in landscape orientation. Specific device compatibility beyond this is not detailed, but it is designed for mobile use. ## Version history (last 2 releases) ### 1.0.1 — 2025-04-18 Better shuffling: The card order is now saved when you quit and restored upon launch. The deck is only shuffled when you select a new edition or get to the last card in the deck. ### 1.0.0 — 2008-09-19 No release notes. ## More apps by Alex Lelievre - [ProRemote](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proremote/id286627793) - [ProRemote Light Edition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proremote-light-edition/id286633892) - [ProTransport](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protransport/id291731667) - [Harmony Tool](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harmony-tool/id1453308184) All apps by Alex Lelievre: https://appshunter.io/developer/286627796 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*